Welcome to this preview of shows and festivals to watch across London in June 2023. Whether you are looking for new writing or revivals, plays or musicals, shows for children or burlesque, comedy, or something a little darker, we’ve got you covered.
Camden People’s Theatre celebrates a decade of the Calm Down, Dear festival from 31 May-17 Jun, this year curated by RashDash. Tickets here.
At Camden Town’s Etcetera, their Indie Summer Festival runs from 1-18 Jun, showcasing new and emerging artists. Tickets here.
At Little Angel Theatre & Studio, you can see The Wolves in the Walls (aimed at age 6+) from 2 Jun- 23 Jul or WOW! Said the Owl (ages 2-5) from 30 May-30 Jul. Tickets here.
At the Southbank Centre, The Gruffalo is in residence from 1-4 Jun with daytime performances. Enjoy Julia Donaldson’s delightful story for children at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Tickets here.
At the Roundhouse, the Last Word Festival is on from 1-18 Jun, “where words come alive”. Enjoy spoken word, music, films and workshops. Tickets here.
Jermyn Street Theatre opens Yours, Unfaithfully from 1 Jun-1 Jul, a revival of a play by Miles Malleson. An open marriage in the 1930s characterises this ‘un-romantic comedy’. Tickets here.
At the Donmar, the delightfully named When Winston Went To War With The Wireless opens on 2 Jun and runs through July and looks at impartiality and the news. Tickets here.
At the Questors, in Ealing, Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, ‘a ravishing, time-travelling comedy’ is revived in the main Playhouse from 3-10 Jun. Tickets here.
At the Kiln from 5-24 Jun, Susie McKenna directs Jennifer Lunn’s award winning new play Es and Flo, celebrating the love of an older lesbian relationship. Tickets here.
A Pinch of Vault is a festival of brand-new & WIP shows from the UK’s leading talents in comedy, theatre and performance, based around The Glitch in Leake Street from 6-18 Jun. Tickets here.
The 96 Festival at the Omnibus is London’s only queer arts festival under one roof. Running 6-24 Jun in association with Diva magazine, it includes two shows returning from this year’s Vault, Scratches, and Far Out. Tickets here.
Just up the road from Barons Court, LAMDA have their Summer Season of student productions, with five shows across their three performance spaces from 7-15 Jun. Tickets here.
At the Tower, Llareggub comes to Stoke Newington through Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood, running from 7-17 Jun. Tickets here.
At Brixton House, there’s the “high stakes heist play” My Uncle is Not Pablo Escobar – running 7-24 Jun, this features four young Latinx actors, two making their professional debuts. Tickets here.
At the Marylebone Theatre, you can watch Roger Peltzman in his own play Dedication, a “singular tale from the Holocaust that is at once extraordinary and relatable”, from 7-24 Jun. Tickets here.
Direct from the National Theatre, The Crucible brings the Salem Witch Trials to the West End from 7 Jun-2 Sep at the Gielgud Theatre. Tickets here.
Wandsworth Arts Fringe returns from 9-25 Jun with 17 “jam-packed, belly-laughing, awe-inspiring days” of shows and events across the borough. Tickets here.
New musical theatre voices are on display on 11 Jun at the Sondheim Theatre as the 12 finalists are announced for the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition. Tickets here.
The Pleasance London has Edinburgh previews running throughout June plus the play Blueprints from 12-17 Jun, a new show about beginnings, knowledge and ancestral inheritance. Tickets here.
At the Soho Theatre Upstairs, the London Clown Festival returns from 12-17 Jun, with shows displaying the best of clowning and physical performance. Tickets here.
At the Finborough, you can see The Return of Benjamin Lay from 13 Jun-8 Jul. This world premiere continues the decade-long collaboration between playwright Naomi Wallace and historian Marcus Rediker. Tickets here.
The Space is showcasing New Moon Monologues across three nights, 15-17 Jun, with the Queen of Cups, Charlotte Anne Tilley, music, comedy, drag and burlesque. Tickets here.
At Riverside Studios, Spy for Spy is an innovative new play where the audience create the structure of the show each night. Running 15 Jun-2 Jul, Kieron Barry’s play is a rom-com with a difference. Tickets here.
Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival runs from 16 Jun-2 Jul across the borough. Performances, exhibitions, talks and workshops are all available. This year’s theme is Together & Change. Tickets here.
Wonderville hosts the West End Showcase for 8-18 year olds on 17-18 Jun. Head over and see if you can spot the stars of the future! Tickets here.
At the Barbican, A Strange Loop runs from 17 Jun, a groundbreaking musical direct from Broadway exploring themes around race and sexuality. Tickets here.
At Barons Court Theatre, the story of the first dog in space is told in Laika, “celebrating the soul who was first to dance among the stars”. Runs 20-24 Jun. Tickets here.
This year’s Shubbak Festival, celebrating Arab culture, runs 23 Jun-9 Jul. With multiple venues across London (and beyond) there is something for everyone. Tickets here.
At the Orange Tree, The Swell is a thrilling LGBTQ romantic drama by Isley Lynn, running from 24 Jun-29 Jul. It features a live vocal score and will also stream live and on-demand in August. Tickets here.
Direct from Chichester, Crazy for You brings a bit of Gershwin sparkle to the West End from 24 Jun at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Tickets here.
See you next month!